Attacks against Roma in Hungary, the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic

15 July 2012

Anti-Roma violence has gained significant prominence in the media in Hungary, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic and Bulgaria.

The attacks listed below, involving firebombing, shooting, stabbing, beating and other acts of violence, have already taken the lives of eight people and have left dozens of others with serious injuries. Many of the attacks have targeted families and children.

The attacks in these countries since have occurred in an increasingly racist climate. These countries have seen a strengthening of extremist and openly racist groups, which spread hate speech and organising anti-Romani marches through the very same villages where people are being attacked or killed.

For the most part, there have been no successful prosecutions of offenders in these attacks. This list of attacks is not exhaustive and does not address the state response to the attacks. The ERRC has not independently verified all of the information contained in these media reports.

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This issue of Roma Rights draws attention to Roma from the Western Balkans and EU visa liberalisation. Migration of Roma from the Western Balkans has attracted significant attention, which at times amounts to hysteria. It has had an impact on migration policy both in countries of origin and target countries for migration. Romani migration has also become a common topic in public discourse, often framed in negatively by media and by public figures. The articles in this issue assess the motivations for Romani migration, the impact of migration policies on Roma, and the experience of Romani migrants.

This report specifically addresses the situation of EU Romani citizens from Romania living in informal settlements in France and does not deal with the particular human rights concerns of Roma from other EU and non-EU countries or French Roma, Sinti, Gens du Voyage, Manouche, etc.